GORA. Those heroes all, who made with him The wanton Argo-voyage hence, The gods above have recompensed With just requital, swift revenge. Death and disgrace have seized them all Save one--how long shall he go free? Each day I listen greedily, And joy to hear how they have died, How fell these glorious sons of Greece, The robber-band that fought their way Back from far Colchis. Thracian maids Rent limb from limb sweet Orpheus' frame; And Hylas found a watery grave; Pirithoüs and Theseus pierced Even to Hades' darksome realm To rob that mighty lord of shades Of his radiant spouse, Persephone; But then he seized, and holds them there For aye in chains and endless night. MEDEA (_swiftly snatching her veil from before her face_). Because they came to steal his wife? Good! Good! 'Twas Jason's crime, nay, less! GORA. Great Heracles forsook his wife, For he was snared by other charms, And in revenge she sent to him A linen tunic, which he took And clad himself therewith--and sank To earth in hideous agonies; For she had smeared it secretly With poison and swift death. He sank To earth, and Oeta's wooded heights Were witness how he died in flames! MEDEA. She wove it, then, that tunic dire That slew him? GORA. Ay, herself. MEDEA. Herself! GORA. Althea 'twas--his mother--smote The mighty Meleager down Who slew the Calydonian boar; The mother slew her child. MEDEA. Was she Forsaken by her husband, too? GORA. Nay, he had slain her brother. MEDEA. Who? The husband GORA. Nay, her son, I mean. MEDEA. And when the deed was done, she died? GORA. She liveth yet. MEDEA. To do a deed Like that--and live! Oh, horrible! Thus much do I know, thus much I see clear Not unavenged shall I suffer wrong; What that vengeance shall be, I know not,--would not know. Whatso'er I can do, he deserves,--ay, the worst! But--mankind are so weak, So fain to grant time for the sinner to feel remorse! GORA. Remorse? Ask thy lord if he rue his deed! For, see! He draws nigh with hasty steps. MEDEA. And with him the king, my bitter foe, Whose counsel hath led my lord astray. Him must I flee, for I cannot tame My hatred. [_She goes swiftly toward the palace._]